AP: Paddy Procurement For Rabi To Begin Today

Kakinada: The state government will commence procurement of paddy for the rabi season from Saturday, targeting 23 lakh metric tonnes.

Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar, who visited Nidadavolu on Friday along with Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, said arrangements have been completed for procurement.

He said 1,917 paddy procurement centres have been set up, 17,200 vehicles arranged for transportation, and 1,264 rice mills have completed bank guarantee formalities to receive paddy from farmers.

The minister said the government has taken steps to avoid issues faced during the previous rabi season and ensure smooth procurement. Rice mills have been instructed to submit self-declarations and supply adequate gunny bags to farmers.

Officials will verify the declarations and certify availability of gunny bags. He said payments will be credited directly to farmers’ accounts within eight hours of uploading the paddy track sheet.

He also said that steam rice will be supplied for mid-day meals from this year.

Criticising former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy over the proposed name ‘MAVIGUN’, he termed it inappropriate and alleged attempts to create unrest. He reiterated that Amaravati would remain the permanent capital.